The Ruling on the Prostration of Forgetfulness in the Tarawih Prayer

Question:
The questioner: A. S. from Rabat, Morocco, asks about the ruling if the imam prays three rak'ahs of Tarawih on the basis that they are two: Is there a prostration of forgetfulness in the Sunnah?

Answer:
Yes, there is a prostration of forgetfulness if he intended two rak'ahs as is customary; because the Sunnah in night prayer is two by two. So if he stands up for a third, he should be alerted by saying "Subhan Allah," and he should return to complete the recitation of the tashahhud, the prayer upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the supplication, then prostrate for forgetfulness, then say the taslim. If he proceeds and does not sit, they should alert him to sit, even after the third, so he sits and recites the tashahhud and what follows it of the prayer upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and the supplication, then prostrates for forgetfulness, then says the taslim. Just as the prostration of forgetfulness is prescribed in the obligatory prayer, it is prescribed in the voluntary prayer. And success is from Allah.